I am delighted to serve as the next president of Women’s Philanthropy!It was wonderful to put on this new hat and to greet nearly 100 women a tour Cool Reads event in June. Aside from hearing about great summer reads from Roxanne Coady of RJ Julia Booksellers and learning about the Jewish Coalition for Literacy, I was happy to get the word out about Women’s Philanthropy: what we do and how we do it.

Women’s Philanthropy is a community of women who are passionate about supporting our local Jewish community, Israel, and Jews around the world. We do this by raising more than a million dollars each year to support the Jewish Federation in these common goals.

While the fundraising enables us to provide critical financial support, Women’s Philanthropy is also about providing hands-on support by identifying specific needs in our local Jewish community and matching them with energetic volunteers who want to make a difference.

Having grown up locally, and as a mother of four, I find it very meaningful to be involved and to involve my children in keeping our community strong.

The Jewish Federation is comprised of many organizations - the day schools, Jewish Family Service, Camp Laurelwood, The Towers and the JCC to name a few. These organizations provide various key and beloved services over the lifespan of members of our community. It is easy to assume that someone else will support these organizations’ needs, large and small, but this is not the case. Participating in Women’s Philanthropy is a way to become involved. If not we who use these services, then who else?

I am fortunate to have Jennifer Bayer as my professional partner in setting an agenda for Women’s Philanthropy for the next two years. Jen comes to the position of assistant director of development with creative energy and tremendous experience within the Jewish Federation and Foundation and elsewhere.

We spent time this summer listening to you, through a series of small discussion groups, about what you think your Women’s Philanthropy is and should be. Our hope is to develop strategic partnerships within our community in order to create easy and fun opportunities for our organizations and families to work together and achieve some g’milut chasadim, acts of loving kindness.

If you would like to speak with us, please get in touch with Jen at jbayer@jewishnewhaven.org. Alternatively, let’s schmooz over cocktails on Sept. 29 from 4:30-6 p.m. at our Women’s Philanthropy Terrace Happy Hour at the JCC. This event will feature specialty cocktails that you can learn to make yourself with New York City mixologist, Jonathan Pogash. You’ll get to meet other members of the Women’s Philanthropy leadership team and learn more about our calendar of events for the year. Details are on our website at jewishnewhaven.org. Please join us for a fun and relaxing evening with friends. I look forward to seeing you soon.